130 Years Ago - 1896

John Frey died of pleurisy at his home in Hortonville May 17. He was born near Mannheim, Germany, December 31, 1831, and came to this country about 40 years ago.

Mrs. Catherine Metzger died of pneumonia at the home of her son in New York May 13 after a short illness. She was the widow of the late George Metzger of Callicoon Depot whose death occurred April 17. She was born in Germany and was a resident of the community for over 40  years. She was a daughter of John Rieber, who formerly kept a hotel at North  Branch.

Rev. W.A. Fuller, late pastor of the M.E. church of Kenoza Lake, died at the home of his son at Kerhonkson, Ulster County, May 9.

H. Pillion, the new proprietor of the maple Grover House at North Branch, will hold an opening ball on Thursday evening, June 4.

120 Years Ago - 1906

George Lahm and L. J. Buddenhagen, employees at Hermann’s lumber yards, Callicoon Depot, have formed a partnership to engage in contracting and building.

There is more building going on this year in Liberty than ever before. Much of it is in line of summer cottages and residences being put up by summer people.

The house and lot of Fred Bartel at Hortonville was sold at sheriff’s sale at Monticello last week. Jacob Dietz of Callicoon Depot bought the property for $900 and will erect a new residence on it.

Henry Winters, a well known merchant at Cochecton for many years and postmaster under President Cleveland, died at his home here on May 12, aged 72.

Herman Gerken Jr. of Callicoon has sent out invitations to the marriage of his daughter, Dorothy R. to Wesley Mansfield Dorrer of North Branch at St. Paul’s Church, Callicoon Center at 3:30 p.m. on June 14.

Chester Yager has bought an automobile in parts and will put it together himself. He got everything excepting the body, which he will build here.

Charles Homer of the Eagle Hotel this week bought a 110-light Tirrill gasoline gas machine and expects to have it installed in his place in three weeks.

Misses Tillie and Louise Himmelreich of Youngsville are visiting their sister, Mrs. Wm. Lieb.

Frank Neuberger and son, Franklin, have received their concrete block machine and are getting ready to put it in operation at their home on the island. It is a miracle machine and one of the best made.

A cold wave struck us the other day just when the weather was getting nice, and the people don’t know whether to lay it to the ice cream signs or to a couple of our citizens who came out with their last year’s  straw hats. However, if the latter appear again they will be doused in the river.

110 Years Ago - 1916

The barn of Herman Molusky, on this side of Callicoon, was burned early Monday morning by a fire supposed to be of incendiary origin, together with a new lumber wagon which Mr. Molusky had brought home only the night before. Two years ago he built a new house only to suffer its destruction by fire, with his sister and mother perishing in the fire. That fire too was thought to have been fired by an incendiary.

Charles Mages of the Beechwoods Road has in captivity three young foxes which he found in a hole in the rocks on the farm. The young reynards are no larger than a kitten.

Edw. J. Schroeder has sold his farm at Youngsville to Wm. Albert of New York.

Agent C.G. Yager this week sold two more Overland cars, one to George Bracey of Stevensville and another to Daniel Poellman Sr. of Liberty. Mr. Poellman, though 72 years of age, will run the car himself and declared he would learn to do the trick in a day.

For several months past the subject has been agitated of organizing a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Rockland. A goodly number of those interested took the first step to organize a chapter by holding a meeting at the home of Fannie Palen, Rockland, on Monday.

Mrs. Lena Hubbert, 65, died last Friday at her home on the North Branch Road, two hours after being suddenly stricken by cerebral apoplexy.

Christian Schmidt died at his home in Livingston Manor early Thursday morning after a week’s illness. He was born at North Branch on January 12, 1874, the son of P. Schmidt and Ottilie Schwartz and married Sophie Schleiermacher of Callicoon Center in 1902.

100 Years Ago - 1926

One morning the siren in the Livingston Manor firehouse began to blow, and everyone immediately wanted to know where the fire was. After much phoning and excitement, it was found a man had tied his horse to a telegraph pole in front of the firehouse while he was doing some business. Becoming uneasy, the horse started to rub its neck and hit the button, turning on the alarm.

Bennie Leonard, champion lightweight boxer of the world, will have a physical culture camp at Sackett lake, near Monticello, this summer.

Frank Neuberger has started work on replacing the old flagstone walk in front of the Wagner place with one of concrete. This is the start of more sidewalk improvements on South Main Street. Mr. Neuberger will also put concrete walks along the  Attila property on East Main and Mill Streets.

The Shop is being reopened today under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Weber of this village, who conducted the Likel boarding house last summer.

Political hot air is not going to make the summer season any more comfortable.

The men in the cigarette advertisements look as pleased as if they had decided to swear off smoking.

In the “Looking Backward” column March 7, 1879, “Nearly a Heavy Loss – One day last week while George Hasenpflue was driving from  his home in the Beechwoods to Jeffersonville, his cutter upset in turning the corner. He had two dozen eggs on board and sixteen were broken. Misfortunes, however, are never so severe that they might be worse, for had it happened a week earlier, the loss would have been at least four cents more.”

90 Years Ago - 1936

Abe Strong of Cochecton Center, who flew a one-seated plane for two years that he had assembled himself until he cracked up in a force landing, is again at work building a larger two-seated plane at his home. His ardor for flying has not been dampened.

Basil Hick, trumpeter, and George Seibert, flutist, Jeffersonville school musicians, took part as soloists in the state contest at Endicott last week.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed the regular appointment of Frederick W. Schadt as postmaster at Jeffersonville. He has been acting postmaster for a couple of months.

Among those admitted to citizenship at Monticello last week were Jens Andersen and Harry Brauninger of Jeffersonville, Wm. Schwartz of White Sulphur Springs, Margaret Niesen and Paul Steffens of Cochecton Center, Otto Steinle of Cochecton, May M. Peters of Callicoon and Jacob Chaves of Lake Huntington.

Mother’s Day was celebrated at St. George’s Catholic Church by a communion breakfast to the ladies of the parish, served and prepared by the men under the leadership of Clarence Wegman and his committee.

The firemen’s band have their new uniforms and will be out in them for the first time in the Memorial Day parade. Ted Rittershausen will be the drum major and sling the baton and some extra antics.

Peter Mathern, who sold his property on upper Maple Avenue, has bought the former Durr farm from the Roths.

Jeffersonville will have a baseball team again this year with Earl Kohler, manager, and Oscar Will, booker. Albert Felske and Carl Joergle will have charge of the field.

80 Years Ago - 1946

Maurice Bader, who bought the Lake Jefferson Hotel, is getting things in shape and hopes to open by Decoration Day.

Shirley Fisher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fisher of Hortonville, and Joseph Boyle, son of the late Edward and Elizabeth Boyle of Beechwoods, were married at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Callicoon, on May 5, by Rev. Albert Hughes.

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Seibert Jr. of Fosterdale announce the engagement of their daughter, Ruth Harriet, to Francis Allison of Bethel.

The annual spring concert featuring students of Jeffersonville, Delaware Valley and Youngsville Central School played to a filled auditorium in Jeff last Friday night.

Miss Dorothy Schumacher of Brooklyn has been engaged to teach school in Liberty next year. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Schumacher of the  Beechwoods.

70 Years Ago - 1956

Fred W. Seibert was appointed clerk-treasurer of the village of Jeffersonville after Ed Weber, who had conscientiously served the village for 15 years declined reappointment.

A large hemlock tree on the lawn of Mrs. Martha Dinnebiel of Jeff was struck by lightning during Monday’s storm.

In the obituary column: John Mullally of Jeffersonville, died at Callicoon Hospital, aged 83; William E. Rau, formerly of Jeffersonville, died at Richmond Hill; John Ketels, 68, chicken and dairy farmer of Callicoon Center, died at his home; Rose Hopkins Hector, 86, of  Youngsville, died at the home of her daughter in Pompton Lake, N.J.

Miss T. Christine, daughter of Wm. Anderson of Jeffersonville, has been enrolled at Katherine Gibbs School in New York City.

60 Years Ago - 1966

Between 500 and 600 are expected to attend the giant campfire of the annual Boy Scout Camporee Saturday night at Rockland Flat near Roscoe.

Miss Kathy Slausenberg of Callicoon is the proud foster mother of a beautiful Appaloosa colt born to her mare, Daddy’s Girl.

Miss Jacqueline Ward and David Bell were selected for Queen and King of the Junior Prom at the Damascus High School.

The PTA Scholarship at Delaware Valley Central School was awarded to Alan Robisch of Hortonville. Ronald Stewart of Long Eddy was named as alternate.

Albert McGraw, 31, father of eight children, a resident of French Woods, died almost instantly near Downsville when he fell under a tractor he had been using to skid logs.

No position has stirred up people in the central part of the county more than reports that Paul’s Hotel, Swan Lake, will be made into a rehabilitation center for narcotic addicts. 

50 Years Ago - 1976

Captain Richard J.  Lusk was promoted to the rank of Major in the United States Air Force on May 1, 1976. He is married to the former Arlyene Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon T. Meyer of Long Eddy. The Lusks have two children, Lisa Anne and Richard Vernon, and Major Lusk is currently stationed at Hanscomb AFB in Massachusetts where he is a Research and Development Procuring Contracting Officer for Electronic Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command.

Debbie Jacobs was given a bridal shower on May 1. She will become the bride of Sherwood McGibbon on June 12.

Pattilynn Culligan and Randy Nygard were married May 12 in St. Peter’s Chapel, Monticello.

At an exhibit of professional and student work, the Long Eddy Emporium of Ceramics gathered seven ribbons at the national East Coast Ceramic Show in Asbury Park, N.J., April 28 to May 6.

Dr. Max Epstein was the honored guest of the Lions Club at their May meeting. A plaque was presented Dr. Epstein by Lion President William Forsbach in recognition of his 35 years of service to the community.

40 Years Ago - 1986

More than 80 colleagues, family and friends of Michael J. Reddy gathered Friday afternoon to honor him on  his retirement from public service after more than 35 years at the town and county levels. A World War II veteran and former prisoner of war, Mr. Reddy was the founder of Reddy Trucking in Narrowsburg.

Two separate fires, one at a mobile home and the other at a barn, kept the Equinunk Volunteer Fire Department on call all day Saturday. The first fire broke out at the home of Vernon Smith on Route 191 near Union. The second was a barn fire at the Norman Dennis farm. Firemen are credited with preserving the Dennis home located 50 to 75 feet from the barn.

A blaze at the Esther Manor camp about two miles west of the Monticello Raceway kept more than 100 firemen busy on Monday.

Jenesa Marinez of Monticello was named first runner up and Linda Bell of Liberty was named Miss Sullivan County Teen.

The former Woodridge High School building has been purchased by the Optimum Realty Company of New York City and the developer plans to start sand blasting the outside with the ultimate goal of establishing a 31-unit condominium. . . The former Holpp’s Lodge in Tennanah Lake has been purchased. Plans are for the place to be opened by June 6 as a year-round resort and health spa.

Commander Jim Johnson and Auxiliary President Inez Gabriel were presented with walnut gavels on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 5808 and Ladies Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars at a dinner held Monday evening at the Autumn Inn in Callicoon.

Young Mike Schanil of Obernburg made it two for two with his feature event victory Saturday at White Lake Speedway.

30 Years Ago - 1996

A Long Island poultry processor with extensive overseas markets has purchased the old National Foods Falls Poultry plant in Livingston Manor with plans to renovate it, to process twice the number of birds it did before and to hire twice as many workers.

A proposal to build 320 units of student housing on the grounds of Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake has some local legislators and providers of student housing up in arms.

The Jeffersonville Area Chamber of Commerce members have recently selected Anna Niemann, Jackie Mallett and Cindy Monahan to replace three retiring positions. Alice Diehl has been selected as the new president. 

Tim Conover, president of the New York Veterans Museum, Inc. publicly announced plans to form a local museum to honor America’s fighting forces and preserve their history for future generations. Conover noted plans to build on a piece of land by the Sullivan County Airport.

Helen L. Stanton of Liberty died May 16, 1996 at the Sullivan Cty. Adult Care Center in Liberty. The widow of Stanley Stanton, she was 94 years of age.

Gladys V. DeFilippi of Liberty, the widow of Anthony DeFilippi, died May 17, 1996 at her home. She was 88 years of age.

Agnes Spielmann of Youngs­ville, who writes the local Youngsville area column, fell on May 11 and broke her pelvis. She will not be writing her column for several weeks.

Liberty Elks #1545 presented the Officer of the Year Award recently to Gene Froelich, and Elk of the Year Award to Gene DeCarlo.

20 Years Ago - 2006

The annual Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Ceremonial Recognition was held at the Sullivan County Government Center May 15. Senior of the Year for the county is Carol Smythe of the town of Neversink. Seniors of the Year 2006 for the townships are: Letha McCausland, Bethel; Eleanor Bucar, Callicoon; Daisy Smith, Cochecton; Patricia Marshalek, Fallsburg; Donald Elliott, Forestburgh; Rev. Dwarka Madanji, Fremont; Arleen Nieke, Highland; Herman Blumenfeld, Liberty; Dorothy Amey, Lumberland; Beverly Houseworth, Mamakating; Carol Smythe, Neversink; Eva Molnar, Thompson; Tula Brown, Rockland; Jan Scheibling, Tusten.

Hilary Peake and Harold Wilson of North Branch are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Kayla Marie Wilson. She was born May 7, 2006. Maternal grandparents are Katie Peake of Hankins and Patrick Peake of Long Eddy. Paternal grandparents are Carol Mixon and Terry Wilson of North Branch.

Lisa and Chris Hardenburgh of Liberty are pleased to announce the birth of a son, Caleb Thomas, born May 12, 2006.

June and Rudy Noetzel of Beach Lake, Pa., formerly of North Branch and Youngsville, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with a party at the Rockland House in Roscoe on May 13. They were married February 4, 1951 at the Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville. The Noetzels are parents of five children, Cheryl, Randolph, Scott, Kyle and Robin, and have eight grandchildren.

10 Years Ago - 2016

Legislators set Sullivan County on a direct path to a new jail on Thursday, resolving decades of discussion with a unanimous vote to bond $95 million. County Manager Josh Potosek acknowledged that taxpayers will face a five percent increase in their county bill next year, but he anticipates savings in the long run from less overtime and less outboarding of inmates to other jails.

Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III congratulated Senior Editor and Staff Writer Dan Hust, who celebrat- ed his 20th anniversary at the Democrat on May 20.

Retiring after 43 years with the college, Professor Tom Lambert was personally honored by the SUNY Sullivan Board on May 19 with a plaque and the designation of “professor emeritus.” Lambert also received recognition from the state and county legislatures, plus a cake to commemorate his celebrated status as one of the college’s most beloved educators.